Disappointing On Mcintosh......help

I decided to refresh this discussion, but not because I relish rabble-rousing.  This past weekend, I replaced my well-regarded stereo power amplifier with a pair of McIntosh MC 611 monaural power amplifiers.  While I get a kick out of those large blue windows with their needles bouncing to and fro, that was hardly the motivation behind my purchase any more than was their retention of value or their famous brand name.  Rather, I bought them because I wanted a better sounding system, this desire constrained by what would be to me, for that improvement, a fair price.

Beauty, in the sonic sense, is in the ears of the beholder.  I wanted to sit down and listen to music that was melodious, enveloping, and simply a delight to hear -- for hours on end.  These MC 611s fulfill that desire to a degree I had never before experienced in my media room.  I suppose that I qualify for being called an "audiophile".  I have steadily improved my audio system over the past 35 years; I doubt I shall never stop, although at this point I have reached a level of satisfaction that contentment is now the appropriate description of where I am.

This topic contains both praises and deprecations of McIntosh with lots of generalizations, particularly by those who are bad-mouthing McIntosh.  I find this amusing, as the only relevant comments are those where a specific component (McIntosh's or a competitor's) is introduced to a person's personal audio system, and that person articulates how well it worked. 

I know that a lot of people on Audiogon appear to relish "clarity".  I have a simple test for establishing whether a system (the amp and speakers being the most critical components) provides clarity.  Play "Wicked Games" by Chris Isaak.  A female chorus in the background softly sings "This world is only going to break your heart".  If the listener can make out every work without undue effort, then that system is truly clear.  (My former amps failed that test; the MC 611s passed it.) I may be wrong about this, but I believe there are two ways that clarity can be delivered.  The first is my having such outstanding ability to amplify the signal that nothing is lost in its boosting; the other is to "goose-up" the lower treble.  This is what airlines do enormously when they make passenger announcements, and it is really unpleasant to hear.  My suspicion is that a lot of amplifiers also do that, but to a lesser degree, of course.

I have been rambling, so let me bring this posting to a close.  I am not going to make a wholesale endorsement of McIntosh.  However, I do feel very comfortable saying that, in a first-class audio system, their MC 611 power amplifiers can be a terrific addition.  They certainly are to mine.

McIntosh is money in the bank! The meters should be green! Seriously, I listen to my money every night a 6pm. 

I love the post.  So many say negative things about McIntosh, but never state the model or related equipment.  I also have 611’s and am very happy.  I hear clarity like I have never heard before.  However, I am going to listen to the track you mentioned.  I am sure some McIntosh equipment is better than other McIntosh equipment, but I am keeping my 611’s.